The Story So Far
In the last three months, we have seen a significant number of changes in the skilled migration landscape, leaving many potential visa applicants (and temporary visa holders wishing to transition to permanent residency) perplexed.
In ...

Last month, I suggested in a post that there was a possibility that the window for lodging a Subclass 187 RSMS visa may be closing shortly for nominations by Perth employers. I had written this in response to reports that Mark McGowan, if elected Premier...

Public Interest Criterion 4020 (“PIC 4020”) acts as a strong disincentive to visa applicants thinking of providing misleading information or bogus documents in relation to a visa application. The provisions are unforgiving and the consequences of fa...

Lester Ong is pleased to be presenting the following migration law seminars/workshops. Go to the relevant links below for more information or to book your place.
Migration Institute of Australia – WA Members’ Mentoring Meeting // 22 February 2016
Th...

Imagine this scenario: you are an overseas national. You are offered employment by an Australian employer who is also prepared to sponsor and nominate you for a 457 visa. You are obviously happy with this opportunity to remain in Australia, work for an em...

Munro Doig is pleased to be part of Legalwise’s Advanced Visas workshop to be held on Tuesday 1 September 2015. The workshop will run from 2.00 pm to 5.15 pm at the Parmelia Hilton (Mill Street, Perth).
Lester Ong, who heads Munro Doig’s migration ...

Public Interest Criterion 4020 (“PIC 4020“) is a notoriously difficult part of the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth).
PIC 4020 in effect imposes a penalty of sorts on a visa applicant who “gives or causes to be given“:
(a) information that is...

Following our previous article on Changes to the 457 Program, we are glad to announce that new 457 English language requirements came into effect from 18 April 2015.
Legislative Instrument IMMI15/028 now sets out the following scores for the purposes of ...

Traditionally, the 457 visa has been the visa of choice to address temporary skills shortages in the labour market. Since 2007, many adjustments have been made to the 457 visa framework depending on the government policy of the day.
In September 2014, ...

Australian visa laws are designed to encourage visa holders to move seamlessly from one visa to another. However, in certain circumstances, visa holders may find themselves not holding any visa (the law calls them “unlawful non-citizens“) or holding b...